Bulgaria - Urban population (% of total population)

Urban population (% of total population) in Bulgaria was 75.69 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 60 years was 75.69 in 2020, while its lowest value was 37.10 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.

Source: United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 37.10
1961 38.78
1962 40.49
1963 42.23
1964 43.99
1965 45.76
1966 47.23
1967 48.50
1968 49.77
1969 51.03
1970 52.30
1971 53.36
1972 54.42
1973 55.47
1974 56.52
1975 57.56
1976 58.53
1977 59.43
1978 60.33
1979 61.22
1980 62.10
1981 62.60
1982 63.10
1983 63.60
1984 64.10
1985 64.59
1986 65.00
1987 65.35
1988 65.69
1989 66.04
1990 66.38
1991 66.72
1992 67.06
1993 67.33
1994 67.56
1995 67.78
1996 68.01
1997 68.23
1998 68.45
1999 68.68
2000 68.90
2001 69.17
2002 69.52
2003 69.88
2004 70.23
2005 70.58
2006 70.93
2007 71.28
2008 71.62
2009 71.96
2010 72.30
2011 72.64
2012 72.98
2013 73.31
2014 73.65
2015 73.99
2016 74.33
2017 74.67
2018 75.01
2019 75.35
2020 75.69

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Percentages urban are the numbers of persons residing in an area defined as ''urban'' per 100 total population. They are calculated by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Particular caution should be used in interpreting the figures for percentage urban for different countries. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization